Gertrud Frieda Luise Kühl was born on August 20, 1908 in Woldenberg and was the oldest sister of my grandma. Her father is unknown. My grand ma always told me about her beautiful black wavy hair – she was very jealouse as a child because she was a frizzy red head. Her sister died during the last days of World War 2 on April 20, 1945 in Hof, Bavaria.

Rudolf sent another postcard to his Martha in summer 1912. She already lived with her daughter Trudchen in Berlin-Wedding close to Gesundbrunnen for sublease.

My beloved Martha!

I received your letter and I am very happy that you are still safe and sound. My beloved Martha please send my best wishes to my father for his birthday on June 20. Beloved Martha, I will be in Küstrin from June 22, and I still have to serve for 22 days and hope they will pass by quickly, it is about time. My beloved Martha please send greetings to my parents and siblings, also to Family Kriese and Witzkes.

In summer 1912 Rudolf Thews went with his company to a military training underground close to Jüterborg (south of Berlin). From there he wrote a post card to his parents-in-law:

Dear Parents!

I would like to inform you that I am still safe and sound and hope you are too. How is Trudchen doing (sister of my grand-mum), is she still doing well? I am already here in Jüterborg since May 31, and I will stay here until June 21.

Dear Parents, I wish you all the best and send you this photography. I hope, everything will good at the end (?).

Best regards, Rudolf

I don’t know how to interpret the very last sentence. He might already had a feeling for the upcoming war? We will never know.

Today I went to my Grandma to see her last time in 2013. I grabbed the box of photos she used to have in her cabinet. I love to look through these old pictures and see my ancestors I have never met. Unfortunately my granny can not remember all of them on those pictures.

Die Hutmacherei in der meine Urgroßmutter als Putzmacherin arbeitete.

Agnes Sahlmann is the millinery where my great-grandmother worked as a hatter, so called Putzmacherin.

A Picture of our old eatery owned by my great-great-grandparents. It was located on the corner of Tauroggener/Brahe Strasse in Charlottenburg and was bombed shortly before the war was over. On the right my great-grandfather Herbert Müller and on the left my great-great-grandfather Hugo Müller.